Engaging Animation: 4 Ways Animation Is Used To Entertain

Animation has blossomed in recent years, extending from movies into advertising, websites, presentations, education, and more. However, animation also remains a thriving presence in the entertainment field. As that field has expanded, so has animation's ability to adapt itself to the field's needs. Following are four of the primary ways in which animation and its various techniques are being effectively used in the entertainment industry today.

Movies One of the first uses of animation was in short films. With the advent of Walt Disney and the development of more efficient techniques, animation became a staple in many beloved feature length children's films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Today, computer graphics, which use both 2D animation and 3D animation, have made it even easier to create winsome movies, not just for children but for adults and families as well. Animation is now used in action films, such as the Transformers movies, as well as in family films like Hero 6 and children's movies like The Lego Movie. Today's animated films include not only shows that solely utilize animation, but also those that combine both live action footage and high quality graphics. As a result, animation has proven itself a versatile tool, able to create characters and worlds that either mesh with live action for thrilling plots or stand on their own in equally appealing story lines.

Television The expansion of animation from the big screen to television was a natural progression that began in the 1940s. Animated television shows feature animated cartoons and anime in a television series. Many of these shows, such as the extremely popular SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora and Friends, and The Magic School Bus, are targeted at children. In fact, many of children's shows today are animated. However, as in films, animation has also taken over television and topics targeted toward adults. For instance, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, and King of the Hill are all popular animated shows that are geared toward adults. Some television shows are also based on comics, using the animation to transform comic books into fascinating, on-screen items of entertainment. As a result, animation has, as in the movies, adapted to provide entertainment for people of all ages and walks of life, except this time in the shorter format

provided by an ongoing television series instead of in a feature length film. The animation techniques used in these television shows includes many of the types of animation technique available today. For instance, 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, cartoon production, anime, and more make their appearances on the television screen. In addition to starring in animated television shows, cartoon production is used to create animated ads for television. Even though the ads are not necessarily designed to entertain, the characters add a level of fun and engagement that convince the viewer to connect emotionally with the brand and therefore be more likely to purchase the product being advertised.

Music Animation also plays a role in the musical side of the entertainment industry through animated music videos. These videos use animation techniques such as traditional animation, 2D animation, motion graphics, and more to showcase the work of artists and bands. Some of these videos are even starting to use the Japanese form of animation, called anime, to accompany the music and lyrics of their artists and bands. Animated music videos are enjoying a rapid increase in popularity and, therefore, can be found across many different musical genres. For instance, in 2014, animated music videos displayed the talent of artists in the country, rock, pop, and indie genres, to name only a few. Examples of successful, and recent, animated music videos include videos produced by artists like The Smashing Pumpkins, Gorillaz, Kanye West, the Maccabees, and Radiohead. Part of the success of these videos has to do with the fact that they utilize the elements of animation that make it appealing to audiences and combine those elements with music. The result is an entertaining package that creates an engaging way for audiences to connect with the artist and makes them more interested in learning more about those artists' music.

Video Games Animation first made its appearance in video games in the 1980s. Since then, as the technology fueling animation has developed and improved, so too has the animation present in video games. As a result, the characters in the games are becoming increasingly realistic, and the overall animation is becoming more and more sophisticated. Video game animation in many ways is more complex and demanding even than the animation for feature length films, simply because the player's interactions in the world of the game must be realistic and convincing. As a result, animators for video games are continually developing more advanced ways to create detailed worlds and realistic characters that draw players into the game. As a result, video game production focuses on the details in the animation, from the expressions on characters' faces to the way in which they react to events on the screen. Animation in the entertainment industry is always evolving and improving to provide top-notch

films, television shows, music videos, and video games for consumers. Through the use of cutting edge technology as well as tried and true methods, this type of animation provides a suitable medium for adults and children, and for conveying simple plots as well as complex themes that will attract and engage all kinds of audiences. Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas with offices in Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been making ideas come to life through animation, illustration, and motion graphics. With a staff of 35 in-house artists, animators, videographers and designers, Powerhouse works on a wide variety of projects and has created animation for companies including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Coca Cola, Miramax, the USO and more. To learn more about some of these projects visit PowerhouseAnimation.com.